Mike Pence contributed to the Republican’s reelection committee.

Former state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam (R) “collected just over $1 million in January between his main campaign account ($379,452) and his Florida Grown political committee ($654,000). He began February with nearly $16.8 million in cash on hand between the two committees.”

Rep. Ron DeSantis’s (R) “campaign advertised a gaudy $3.3 million January haul — but more than $2.4 million of that figure was raised last year by a pro-DeSantis PAC and transferred to a new PAC in January. … DeSantis … raised $894,020 in new contributions in January. … The Fund For Florida’s Future nearly zeroed out its account last month, giving $2 million to the new DeSantis PAC on Jan. 18 and another $447,394 on Jan. 31. All told, DeSantis began February with more than $3.3 million in cash on hand.”

Among Democrats, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine (D) “raked in the most January money. His All About Florida PAC collected $647,000 while his main campaign raised $105,894. Levine began February with $4.1 million in cash on hand between the two entities. Levine so far has poured more than $3.6 million of his own money into the race.”

Former Rep. Gwen Graham (D) “raised a combined $453,906 during January and began February with nearly $3.3 million in cash on hand.”

“Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum (D) started this month with $676,528 in available cash between his campaign and his Forward Florida PAC after raising $148,746 in January.” (Palm Beach Post)

BIG NAMES. “Vice President Mike Pence’s Great America Committee gave the maximum $5,400 contribution to” Rep. Ron DeSantis’s (R) “federal campaign last quarter, just weeks before he launched his bid for Florida governor, according to recentFEC filings. A spokesman said Monday that DeSantis refunded half of the donation in January since he isn’t seeking reelection.” (National Journal)

DeSantis’s reelection committee reported $1.6 million on hand as of Dec. 31. DeSantis launched his campaign on Jan. 5 after President Trump endorsed DeSantis on Dec. 22. A DeSantis spokesman: “No decisions have been made about what we will do with his federal campaign account at this point.”

Pence spokesman Marty Obst, when asked if Great America Committee will monetarily support DeSantis’s gubernatorial bid: “We are continuing to evaluate races around the country on behalf of Great America Committee, and look forward to supporting a number of qualified candidates who support the White House agenda.” (Hotline reporting)

“Pence’s Great America Committee PAC distributed over $40,000 to a handful of Republican gubernatorial candidates, including incumbents, in the second half of 2017.”

“In the short term, it’s an effort to increase the possibility that Republican candidates or governors running for reelection have an easier time winning their primaries and then the general elections in their states. Longer-term, it’s a move to strengthen the ranks of loyalists to President Donald Trump and Pence and prepare for 2020.” (Politico)

DeSantis introduced and endorsed former White House adviser Sebastian Gorka at the St. Lucie County Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday. (Tampa Bay Times)

State House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R) “headed to Las Vegas for the annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition.” (Tampa Bay Times)

"President Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that would increase the amount of information colleges divulge to prospective students, while adding pressure on schools not to discriminate against unpopular political views. The order will be signed Thursday afternoon and follows Trump's pledge in a speech this month to sign an executive order on university free speech after incidents, including an alleged assault, targeting conservative students. The executive order will require that, in order to receive federal grants, schools confirm to 12 federal agencies they are abiding by the First Amendment."

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NO INDICTMENTS SINCE JANUARY

Mueller's Team Down to 10 Lawyers

1 days ago

THE LATEST

"Mueller’s team, once filled with 17 lawyers, will soon be down to 10. The special counsel’s office confirmed in recent days that Zainab Ahmad’s detail has ended, and Andrew Weissmann will soon be leaving for the private sector. No one has been charged by the special counsel since longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone was indicted in January for allegedly lying to Congress."

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HE PLANNED TO LEAVE MID-MARCH

Rosenstein Not Leaving DOJ Yet

2 days ago

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MANAFORT STEERED HIM WORK IN UKRAINE

Prosecutors Weighing Whether to Charge Greg Craig

3 days ago

THE LATEST

A long-running federal investigation into former Obama White House counsel Gregory Craig "is reaching a critical stage, presenting the Justice Department with a decision about whether to charge a prominent Democrat as part of a more aggressive crackdown on illegal foreign lobbying." Federal prosecutors in New York have transferred the case to Washington. ... The investigation centers on whether Mr. Craig should have disclosed work he did in 2012 — while he was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom — on behalf of the Russia-aligned government of Viktor F. Yanukovych, then the president of Ukraine. The work was steered to Mr. Craig by Paul Manafort."

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AUTHORIZED TO UNLOCK PHONES

Feds Raided Broidy's Offices Last Year

3 days ago

THE LATEST

"Federal authorities raided the office of Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy last summer, seeking records related to his dealings with foreign officials and Trump administration associates, according to a sealed search warrant obtained by ProPublica. Agents were authorized to use the megadonor’s hands and face to unlock any phones that required fingerprint or facial scans."